A nurse is caring for a client who is dying of metastatic breast cancer. She has a prescription for an opioid pain medication PRN. The nurse is concerned that administering a dose of pain medication might hasten the client's death. Which of the following ethical principles should the nurse use to support the decision not to administer the medication?

Answer: B

Rationale:

A. Radial vein in the wrist: The radial vein is not commonly used for IV catheter insertion due to its location and size. The wrist veins can be smaller and more difficult to cannulate compared to veins in the forearm or antecubital area.

B. Median vein in the forearm: The median vein in the forearm is a preferred site for IV catheter insertion in older adults. It is generally more accessible and less prone to complications than veins in the hand or wrist, making it a suitable choice for stable, longer-term access.

C. Dorsal metacarpal vein: While the dorsal metacarpal veins on the hand can be used for IV insertion, they are typically smaller and more difficult to access than veins in the forearm. Additionally, veins in the hand can be more prone to irritation and complications.

D. Ante-cubital vein: The antecubital vein (such as the median cubital vein) is a good site for IV insertion due to its size and accessibility, especially for larger gauge catheters or when longer-term access is needed. However, it is often preferred for more acute situations rather than routine outpatient procedures.

A. Instruct the client to stay in the same position for 2 min: While it is important for the client to remain in a supine position with the head tilted back slightly after instilling nasal decongestant drops, there is no need for the client to remain in the same position for a specific duration such as 2 minutes.
B. Tell the client to blow her nose gently before the instillation: Blowing the nose before instilling nasal decongestant drops is not necessary and may cause irritation to the nasal passages. The drops should be instilled directly into the nasal passages without prior blowing of the nose.
C. Assist the client to a side-lying position: There is no need to assist the client to a side-lying position for the administration of nasal decongestant drops. The drops are typically administered with the client in a seated or supine position with the head tilted back slightly.
D. Hold the dropper 2 cm (1 in) above the nares: This is the correct action. Holding the dropper approximately 2 cm (1 in) above the nares allows for precise instillation of the drops into the nasal passages without touching the dropper to the nares, which helps prevent contamination.